Device and method for displaying image in chatting area and server for managing chatting data

ABSTRACT

There is provided a device that displays an image in a chatting area where a text is displayed. The device includes a data communication unit that receives a text from an external device via a network; a text display unit that displays the received text in the chatting area; an image search unit that searches for image data of an image selected through a user interface; a position detection unit that detects position information of a region selected through the user interface in the chatting area; and an image display unit that displays the searched image data in a region corresponding to the detected position information. Further, when the displayed text is shifted in the chatting area, the displayed image data are also shifted in the chatting area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/437,005, filed on Apr. 20, 2015 which claims the benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2012-0117286, filed on Oct. 22, 2012, theentire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described herein pertain generally to a device andmethod for displaying an image in a chatting area where a text isdisplayed, and a server for managing chatting data.

BACKGROUND

IMS (Instant Message Service) refers to a real-time online communicationservice that enables a message transmitted from a sender to instantlyappear on the screen of a device of a receiver without using an e-mailprogram or a web browser. In particular, a service for providingchatting and voice and video calls through a mobile network is referredto as MIM (Mobile Instant Messenger) service.

The term “emoticon” is a portmanteau word derived from “emotion” thatmeans a feeling and an icon, and refers to a specific pictorial symbolused for expressing a user's a feeling or an opinion in cyberspace. Suchemoticons started from an image symbolizing a smiley face, and have beendiversified in kind and form including from facial expressions showingthe other party's feelings when exchanging online chatting messages oremails, to feelings, jobs, characters, and animals.

In recent years, an emoticon service that enables users to express theirfeelings using emoticons has been provided to the users in the IMS orthe MIM service. However, the currently provided emoticon service islimited to a simple configuration in which if a selection of a certainemoticon is received from a user, the emoticon is displayed in a regionpredetermined as a default.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

There is provided a device and method for displaying an image thatenables a user to display an image in any region the user wants when theuser displays the image within a chatting area where a text isdisplayed. Further, there is provided a device and method for displayingan image that induces the user to participate in and use the service bygiving the user the authority to control, for example, deletion or shiftof an image displayed in the chatting area. However, problems to besolved by the present exemplary embodiment are not limited to theabove-described problems, and there may be other problems to be solved.

Means for Solving the Problems

In one exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a device thatdisplays an image in a chatting area where a text is displayed. Thedevice includes: a data communication unit that receives a text from anexternal device via a network; a text display unit that displays thereceived text in the chatting area; an image search unit that searchesfor image data of an image selected through a user interface; a positiondetection unit that detects position information of a region selectedthrough the user interface in the chatting area; and an image displayunit that displays the searched image data in a region corresponding tothe detected position information. Further, when the displayed text isshifted in the chatting area, the displayed image data are also shiftedin the chatting area.

In another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a deviceincluding: a data communication unit that receives a text from anexternal device via a network; a text display unit that displays thereceived text in a chatting area; an image search unit that searches forimage data of an image selected through a user interface; a positiondetection unit that detects position information of a region selectedthrough the user interface in the chatting area; an image display unitthat displays the searched image data in a region corresponding to thedetected position information; and an image deletion unit thatnon-displays the displayed image when a the region where the image dataare displayed is selected through the user interface, wherein when thedisplayed text is shifted within the chatting area, the displayed imagedata are also shifted within the chatting area.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a method fordisplaying an image in a chatting area where a text is displayed. Themethod includes: receiving a text from an external device via a network;displaying the received text in the chatting area; searching for imagedata of an image selected through a user interface; detecting positioninformation of a region selected through a user interface in thechatting area; displaying the searched image data in a regioncorresponding to the detected position information; and shifting thedisplayed image data in the chatting area when the displayed text isshifted in the chatting area.

In still another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a deviceincluding a data communication unit that receives a text, image data,and position information from an external device via a network; a textdisplay unit that displays the received text in a chatting area; and animage display unit that displays the received image data in a regioncorresponding to the received position information, wherein when thedisplayed text is shifted within the chatting area, the displayed imagedata are also shifted within the chatting area.

In still another exemplary embodiment, there may be provided a serverthat manages chatting data. The server includes: a text management unitthat receives a text from a first device and transmits the received textto a second device from among multiple devices connected via a network;an image data management unit that receives information of the imagedata from the first device and transmits the received information of theimage data to the second device; and a position information managementunit that receives position information related to the image data fromthe first device and transmits the received position information to thesecond device. Further, the image data are displayed in a regioncorresponding to the position information in the chatting area of thesecond device.

Effects of the Invention

It is possible to provide a device and method for displaying asticker-type image that enables a user to display an image in any regionthe user wants by detecting position information of a certain regionselected through a user interface and displaying image data in a regioncorresponding to the detected position information. It is possible toprovide a device and method for displaying an image that induces a userto participate in and use a service by giving the user the authority tocontrol, for example, deletion or shift of an image displayed in achatting area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration view of a chatting service providing systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a configuration view of a device 20 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe device 20 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a notice message isdisplayed by an image display unit 205 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a configuration view of a device 50 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe device 50 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a configuration view of a device 70 according to yet anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a configuration view of a chatting data management server 10of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe chatting data management server 10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for displaying an image according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for displaying an image according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for managing chatting data accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the presentdisclosure may be readily implemented by those skilled in the art.However, it is to be noted that the present disclosure is not limited tothe embodiments but can be embodied in various other ways. In drawings,parts irrelevant to the description are omitted for the simplicity ofexplanation, and like reference numerals denote like parts through thewhole document.

Through the whole document, the term “connected to” or “coupled to” thatis used to designate a connection or coupling of one element to anotherelement includes both a case that an element is “directly connected orcoupled to” another element and a case that an element is“electronically connected or coupled to” another element via stillanother element. Further, the term “comprises or includes” and/or“comprising or including” used in the document means that one or moreother components, steps, operation and/or existence or addition ofelements are not excluded in addition to the described components,steps, operation and/or elements unless context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a configuration view of a chatting service providing systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 1, the chatting service providing system includes achatting data management server 10 and devices 21 to 23. However, thechatting service providing system illustrated in FIG. 1 is one exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, and, thus, the present disclosureis not limited to FIG. 1. That is, according to various exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure, the chatting service providingsystem may have different configurations from the configurationillustrated in FIG. 1. By way of example, the chatting service providingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosuremay further include a payment server (not illustrated) that performs apayment process with respect to the devices 21 to 23.

The components of the chatting service providing system illustrated inFIG. 1 are typically connected to each other via a network. The networkrefers to a connection structure that enables information exchangebetween nodes such as terminals and servers. Examples of the network mayinclude 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) network, LTE (LongTerm Evolution) network, WIMAX (World Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess) network, Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN(Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), PAN (PersonalArea Network), Bluetooth network, satellite broadcasting network, analogbroadcasting network, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) network, andthe like, but may not be limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first network that connects the chatting datamanagement server 10 with the devices 21 to 23 and a second network thatconnects the device 22 with the device 23 may be of different types. Byway of example, the first network may be a broadband network and thesecond network may be a local area network. Herein, an example of thebroadband network may be a LTE network and an example of the local areanetwork may be a Wireless LAN.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thechatting data management server 10 may receive chatting data from anyone of the multiple devices 21 to 23 and transmit the received chattingdata to another one of the multiple devices 21 to 23. Herein, thechatting data management server 10 may receive the chatting data andtransmit the received chatting data via the first network. The chattingdata may include at least one of a text, image data, and positioninformation related to the image data.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thechatting data management server 10 may receive information (for example,selection information or identification information) related to chattingdata from the multiple devices 21 to 23 and transmit chatting datacorresponding to the received information to the multiple devices 21 to23. By way of example, the chatting data management server 10 mayreceive identification information of image data A from the device 21and transmit the image data A to the device 21 on the basis of thereceived identification information.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thechatting data management server 10 may receive information (for example,selection information or identification information) related to chattingdata from one of the multiple devices 21 to 23 and transmit the receivedinformation to another one of the multiple devices 21 to 23. Then, ifanother one of the multiple devices 21 to 23 requests chatting datathrough the information related to chatting data, the chatting datamanagement server 10 may transmit the chatting data to the another oneof the multiple devices 21 to 23. By way of example, the chatting datamanagement server 10 may receive identification information of imagedata A from the device 21 and deliver the received identificationinformation to the device 22, and if the device 22 requests the imagedata A through the identification information of the image data A, thechatting data management server 10 may transmit the image data A to thedevice 22. As such, the chatting data management server 10 relaysinformation (for example, selection information or identificationinformation) related to chatting data among the devices 21 to 23, and ifeach device directly requests chatting data, the chatting datamanagement server 10 transmits the chatting data to each device.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,chatting data may be directly transmitted from the device 22 to thedevice 23. In other words, chatting data may be directly transmittedbetween the device 22 and the device 23 via the second network thatconnects the device 22 with the device 23 without passing through thechatting data management server 10.

Each of the devices 21 to 23 displays a text and image data inputthrough a user interface in a chatting area of a display provided in thedevice. Herein, each of the devices 21 to 23 may display image data in aregion corresponding to a certain location selected from the chattingarea through the user interface. Thus, each of the devices 21 to 23 candisplay the image data in any region which a user of each of the devices21 to 23 wants. Herein, an example of the image data may includesticker-type image data.

Each of the devices 21 to 23 displays a text and image data deliveredfrom another device in real time in the chatting area. Herein, each ofthe devices 21 to 23 further receives position information of the imagedata from the another device, and displays the image data in a regioncorresponding to the received position information in the chatting area.Thus, each of the devices 21 to 23 can display an image in any regionwhich a user of each of the devices 21 to 23 wants or another user ofanother device wants.

If a control command about image data displayed in the chatting area isinput through the user interface or from another device, each of thedevices 21 to 23 controls the displayed image data. By way of example,if a shift command as a control command is input, each of the devices 21to 23 may shift the displayed image data. Further, by way of example, ifa selection (for example, a click or a touch) of the displayed image isinput, each of the devices 21 to 23 may non-display the displayed imagedata. As such, each of the devices 21 to 23 can induce a user of areal-time chatting to participate in and use a service by giving theuser the authority to control, for example, deletion or shift of animage displayed in the chatting area.

According to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure,the devices 21 to 23 may be of various forms. By way of example, thedevices may be a TV apparatus, a computer, or a portable terminal whichcan be connected to a remote server via a network. Herein, examples ofthe TV apparatus may include a smart TV and an IPTV set-top box,examples of the computer may include a notebook, a desktop, and a laptopequipped with a WEB browser, and examples of the portable terminal mayinclude a portable wireless communication device that ensuresportability and mobility and includes any kind of handheld-basedwireless communication device such as PCS (Personal CommunicationSystem), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), PDC (PersonalDigital Cellular), PHS (Personal Handyphone System), PDA (PersonalDigital Assistant), IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication)-2000,CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)-2000, W-CDMA (W-Code DivisionMultiple Access), Wibro (Wireless Broadband Internet) terminal, smartphone, tablet PC, or the like.

Hereinafter, operations of the respective components included in thechatting service providing system illustrated in FIG. 1 will bedescribed in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a configuration view of a device 20 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. The device 20 may be any one ofthe devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1, but may not be limited tothe devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the device 20 includes a data communication unit201, a text display unit 202, an image search unit 203, a positiondetection unit 204, an image display unit 205, and a user interface 206.However, the device 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is one exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure and can be modified or changed in various wayson the basis of the components illustrated in FIG. 2. By way of example,the device 20 may further include an audio output device that outputsaudio and a display that outputs video.

The data communication unit 201 receives chatting data of an externaldevice 30 via a network. Herein, the data communication unit 201 mayreceive chatting data from the chatting data management server 10.Generally, the chatting data may include at least one of a text, imagedata, and position information related to the image data. Further, thedata communication unit 201 may transmit chatting data to the externaldevice 30 connected via the network. Generally, the external device 30may be any one of the devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1, but maynot be limited to the devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The data communication unit 201 receives chatting data from the chattingdata management server 10. Herein, the chatting data management server10 receives information (for example, identification information orselection information) related to chatting data toward the device 20 asa destination from the external device 30 and transmits chatting data tothe data communication unit 201 using the received information.

The data communication unit 201 may receive identification informationrelated to chatting data from the chatting data management server 10 andreceive chatting data from the chatting data management server 10through the received identification information. Herein, theidentification information related to chatting data is transmitted fromthe external device 30 to the chatting data management server 10. Thatis, the chatting data management server 10 transmits and receives onlyidentification information related to chatting data to/from the deviceswhile storing chatting data therein, and if a certain device requestschatting data through identification information, the chatting datamanagement server 10 may transmit the requested chatting data to thedevice.

Otherwise, the data communication unit 201 may directly transmit andreceive chatting data to/from the external device 30 without passingthrough the chatting data management server 10.

The text display unit 202 displays a text in a chatting area. Herein,the text may be a text received from the external device 30 or a textinput through the user interface 206. The chatting area is an areadisplayed on a display of the device 20 as a graphic area for displayinga text input through the user interface 206 or received from theexternal device 30.

FIG. 3 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe device 20 of FIG. 2. Referring to a reference numeral 41 of FIG. 3,the text display unit 202 may display a text “No. I'm OK.” 413 inputthrough the user interface 206 or a text “Are you busy?” 414 or “Losesome weight.” 415 received from the external device 30 in a chattingarea 412 displayed on a display 411 of the device 20. Herein, the texts“No, I'm OK.” 413, “Are you busy?” 414, and “Lose some weight.” 415 maybe respectively displayed in text bubbles as shown in the referencenumeral 41.

The image search unit 203 searches for image data of an image selectedthrough the user interface 206. To be specific, if the image displayunit 205 receives a command to call images through the user interface206 and displays multiple images in a predetermined region of thedisplay of the device 20, the image search unit 203 may search for imagedata of an image selected through the user interface 206 from thedisplayed multiple images. Herein, the multiple images may be arrangedin used order. By way of example, a first image most recently used amongthe multiple images may be displayed in a first line and first row of animage list as compared with the other images. In order to do so, theuser interface 206 may provide the user with a list of the multipleimages arranged in used order.

The image search unit 203 searches for information (for example,identification information or selection information) of the image dataof the image selected through the user interface 206. In this case, thedevice 20 stores the information of the image data therein, and mayreceive image data corresponding to the information from the chattingdata management server 10 if necessary.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theselected image may be a first-type image. Generally, the first-typeimage refers to an image which is displayed in a region corresponding todetected position information. The first-type image is different from asecond-type image which is displayed in a region determined by a defaultvalue. Herein, an example of the first-type image may be sticker-typeimage, and an example of the second-type image may be an emoticon-typeimage. The sticker-type image is displayed in a region selected throughthe user interface 206, and, thus, can be displayed in any region theuser wants. Meanwhile, the emoticon-type image can be displayed only ina region determined by a default value.

The first-type image is displayed by the image display unit 205 in aregion corresponding to detected position information. The second-typeimage is displayed by the image display unit 205 in a region determinedby a default value. Examples of the region determined by a default valuemay include a region in a predetermined distance range from a regionwhere a latest text is displayed, a left or right region of the regionwhere a latest text is displayed, or a region to be reduced or enlargedaround the region where a latest text is displayed.

Referring to a reference numeral 42 of FIG. 3, the image search unit 203searches for image data of an image 423 selected through the userinterface among multiple images. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the multipleimages 423 to 425 are displayed in a region 421 which is activated inresponse to a call command input through the user interface 206. Whenthe region 421 is activated, a chatting area is changed from the area411 to an area 422. The image 423 is the most currently used image amongthe multiple images 423 to 425, and may be displayed in the uppermostline and most left row as compared with the other images 424 and 425.

The image search unit 203 searches for image data from a database (notillustrated). Herein, the database (not illustrated) stores image datainput through the user interface 206 and image data input from theexternal device 30. However, the database (not illustrated) storesinformation of the image data, and the image search unit 203 may receiveimage data corresponding to the information from the chatting datamanagement server 10 if necessary. Further, the database (notillustrated) may store texts and position information in addition to theimage data. Examples of the database (not illustrated) may include ahard disc drive, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory),a flash memory, and a memory card present inside or outside the device20.

The user of the device 20 selects a region for displaying an imagethrough the user interface 206. By way of example, the user may select aregion by placing his/her finger in a predetermined point region in thechatting area through a touch screen interface as the user interface206. In this case, the point region may be specified by a pixel or atleast two pixels. Further, by way of example, the user may select aregion by moving his/her finger to specify a predetermined plane regionformed into a circle, a triangle, or a square through the touch screeninterface as the user interface 206. In this case, the plane region maybe specified by a pixel or at least two pixels.

As illustrated in a reference numeral 43 of FIG. 3, the image displayunit 205 may display a notice message 431 such as “Select a place youwant to attach a sticker.” to instruct the user to select a region inthe display of the device 20, and if “OK.” 432 is selected through theuser interface 206, the notice message 431 may be non-displayed.

The position detection unit 204 detects position information of theregion selected through the user interface 206 in the chatting area.Herein, the position information may be coordinate information forspecifying the selected region. By way of example, the positioninformation may be coordination information of at least one pixel in theregion selected through the user interface 206. Such coordinateinformation may be an identification number for specifying each ofmultiple pixels by a single value, 2D coordinates including an x-axislocation and a y-axis location, or 3D coordinates including x-axis,y-axis, and z-axis locations.

The selected region may be any one cell region selected through the userinterface 206 among at least two cell regions divided by at least onedividing line. Herein, the chatting area is divided into at least twocell regions by at least one dividing line. The position detection unit204 may detect position information of the selected cell region. Theposition information may be coordination information. The coordinateinformation may be an identification number for specifying each ofmultiple cells by a single value, 2D coordinates including an x-axislocation and a y-axis location, or 3D coordinates including x-axis,y-axis, and z-axis locations. The image display unit 205 may display atleast one dividing line that divides at least two cells in the chattingarea. Referring to reference numerals 43 and 44 of FIG. 3, the imagedisplay unit 205 may display at least one dividing line 433 that divideat least two cells in the chatting area.

A region selected to display an image may be overlapped with a regionwhere a text is displayed in whole or in part. In other words, the imagedisplayed in the region selected through the user interface 206 cancover the region where the text is displayed in whole or in part.

If a region to be selected through the user interface is in apredetermined distance range from a text already displayed in thechatting area, the already displayed text may be emphasized by the textdisplay unit 202. By way of example, if a region to be selected is in apredetermined distance range from a text already displayed in thechatting area, the text display unit 202 may regularly make flicker ofthe already displayed text or a text bubble of the already displayedtext, or change a color of the already displayed text, or change a colorof the text bubble of the already displayed text. Further, by way ofexample, if a region to be selected is overlapped in whole or in partwith a text already displayed in the chatting area, the text displayunit 202 may regularly make flicker of the already displayed text or atext bubble of the already displayed text, or change a color of thealready displayed text, or change a color of the text bubble of thealready displayed text.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the position detection unit 204 detectsposition information of a region 441 selected through the user interface206. In order to do so, the user may select a region by placing his/herfinger 442 in a predetermined point region in the chatting area througha touch screen interface as the user interface 206. The positioninformation may be position information of a point region directlyspecified by the user or position information of any one of at least twocell regions divided by the at least one dividing line 433.

The image display unit 205 displays the searched image data in a regioncorresponding to the detected position information. Herein, the detectedposition information refers to position information of a region selectedthrough the user interface 206, and the region corresponding to theposition information refers to a region for displaying image data.Therefore, generally, the region selected through the user interface 206is distinguished from the region corresponding to the positioninformation. By way of example, the region selected through the userinterface 206 may be specified by a predetermined circular region in thechatting area, whereas the region corresponding to the positioninformation may be specified by a predetermined square region specifiedby the center of the circular region, an x-axis distance of the imagedata, and a y-axis distance of the image data. However, according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the regionselected through the user interface 206 may be the same as the regioncorresponding to the position information.

A region where image data are displayed, i.e. a region corresponding toposition information may be overlapped in whole or in part with a regionwhere a text is displayed. In other words, the region where image dataare displayed can be overlapped in whole or in part with the regionwhere a text is displayed. Generally, a text is displayed in thechatting area by the text display unit 202, and image data are displayedin the chatting area by the image display unit 205, but may not belimited thereto.

If the text displayed in the chatting area is shifted in the chattingarea, the displayed image data are also shifted in the chatting area. Byway of example, if a first text to a seventh text are displayed in thechatting area and a first image is displayed in the chatting area andthen, an eighth text is input through the user interface 206 or from theexternal device 30, the first text may be non-displayed in the chattingarea and the second text to the seventh text may be shifted in an upwarddirection in the chatting area and the first image is also shifted inthe upward direction in the chatting area. Further, the region where thefirst text to the eighth text are displayed is determined by a defaultvalue, whereas the region where the first image is displayed is randomlydetermined by the user interface 206. Herein, the first text to theeighth text are displayed, non-displayed, or shifted by the text displayunit 202, and the image data may be displayed, non-displayed, or shiftedby the image display unit 205. In order to do so, a control signal maybe transmitted and received between the text display unit 202 and theimage display unit 205. Generally, the first image may be a sticker-typeimage of which a location is determined by the user.

Referring to a reference numeral 45 of FIG. 3, the image display unit205 displays the searched image data in a region 451 corresponding tothe detected position information. Herein, the region 451 correspondingto the position information may be overlapped in whole with the regionwhere the text 415 is displayed. In other words, the region 451corresponding to the position information can cover the whole regionwhere the text 415 is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 3, the text “No, I'm OK.” 413 input through the userinterface 206 is displayed in a region determined by a default value onthe right side of the chatting area. Further, the text “No, I'm OK.” 413input through the user interface 206 is shifted from a first regiondetermined by a default value on the right side of the chatting area toa second region (for example, above the first region) according to theprogress of chatting. Likewise, the text “Are you busy?” 414 or “Losesome weight.” 415 received from the external device 30 is displayed in aregion determined by a default value on the left side of the chattingarea and shifted from a third region determined by a default value to afourth region (for example, above the third region) according to theprogress of chatting. By contrast, image data may be displayed in theregion 451 randomly determined by the user.

The image display unit 205 can shift the displayed image data. To bespecific, if the position detection unit 204 receives a shift command ofthe displayed image data through the user interface 206 and detectsposition information of a destination region of the display image dataon the basis of the shift command, the image display unit 205 may shiftthe display image data to a region corresponding to the detectedposition information of the destination region. According to an exampleof the shift command, the displayed image data are activated to beshiftable by the user and the activated image data are shifted by theuser to the destination region. Herein, the displayed image data can beactivated when the user touches a finger in the region for the displayedimage data for several seconds.

The data communication unit 201 transmits image data and positioninformation to the external device 30. Herein, if the image search unit203 searches for image data of an image selected through the userinterface 206 and the position detection unit 204 detects positioninformation of a region selected through the user interface 206 in thechatting area, the data communication unit 201 may transmit the searchedimage data and the detected position information to the external device30. Further, if the image display unit 205 displays the searched imagedata in a region corresponding to the detected position information, thedata communication unit 201 may transmit the searched image data and thedetected location formation to the external device 30. The externaldevice 30 displays the received image data in a region corresponding tothe detected position information in a chatting area of the externaldevice 30.

The image display unit 205 displays external image data received fromthe external device 30. Herein, the data communication unit 201 mayreceive external image data and external position information from theexternal device 30, and the image display unit 205 may display theexternal image data in a region corresponding to the external positioninformation in the chatting area. The external position informationrefers to position information of a region selected through a userinterface of the external device 30. Generally, an external user mayselect a region by placing his/her finger in a predetermined pointregion in the chatting area through a touch screen interface as the userinterface of the external device 30, or may select a region by movinghis/her finger to specify a predetermined plane region formed into acircle, a triangle, or a square through the touch screen interface asthe user interface of the external device 30. Further, the externalposition information may be an identification number for specifying eachof multiple pixels by a single value, 2D coordinates including an x-axislocation and a y-axis location, or 3D coordinates including x-axis,y-axis, and z-axis locations.

If the data communication unit 201 receives the external image data fromthe external device 30, the image display unit 205 may display a noticemessage for notifying a receipt of the external image data in thedisplay of the device 20. Further, if the data communication unit 201receives the external position information related to the external imagedata from the external device 30, the image display unit 205 may displaya notice message for notifying a receipt of the external image data orthe external position information in the display of the device 20.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a notice message isdisplayed by the image display unit 205 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 4,if the data communication unit 201 receives a sticker-type image asexternal image data from the external device 30 of a user A, the imagedisplay unit 205 may display a notice message “A attached a sticker.” 46for notifying a receipt of the sticker-type image from the user A in thedisplay of the device 20. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the notice messagemay be displayed as a push message on a lock screen where the chattingarea is not activated.

The user interface 206 refers to a tool or a device through which acontrol command is input by the user. The user interface 206 may be aphysical input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, andthe like, and may also be a graphical user interface (GUI) expressed ina video display device.

The user interface 206 may provide a tool for modifying image datadisplayed in the chatting area. By way of example, the user interface206 may provide a graphic editing tool for modifying image data selectedthrough the user interface 206 or image data received from the externaldevice 30. Herein, the image data selected through the user interface206 or the image data received from the external device 30 may be in theform of a sticker-type image.

The user interface 206 may provide a tool for generating image data. Byway of example, the user interface 206 may provide a graphic editingtool for generating image data from an original image received from theoutside, or may provide a graphic editing tool for generating image datafrom an image captured from the display of the device 20. Herein, theimage data generated from the original image or the image data generatedfrom the captured image may be in the form of a sticker-type image.

FIG. 5 is a configuration view of a device 50 according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The device 50 refers toany one of the devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1, but may not belimited to the devices 21 to 23 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the device 50 includes a data communication unit501, a text display unit 502, an image search unit 503, a positiondetection unit 504, an image display unit 505, a user interface 506, animage deletion unit 507, and a payment processing unit 508. Among thecomponents of the device 50, the data communication unit 501, the textdisplay unit 502, the image search unit 503, the position detection unit504, the image display unit 505, and the user interface 506 correspondto the data communication unit 201, the text display unit 202, the imagesearch unit 203, the position detection unit 204, the image display unit205, and the user interface 206, respectively. Therefore, thedescriptions made above with respect to the data communication unit 201to the user interface 206 of the device 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 can berespectively applied even to non-described matters of the datacommunication unit 501 to the user interface 506 of the device 50illustrated in FIG. 5. Further, the descriptions made with respect tothe data communication unit 501 to the user interface 506 of the device50 illustrated in FIG. 5 can also be respectively applied to the datacommunication unit 201 to the user interface 206 of the device 20illustrated in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the description made with respect tothe external device 30 can be applied to the non-described matters of anexternal device 60, and the description made with respect to theexternal device 60 can also be applied to the device 30.

The device 50 illustrated in FIG. 5 is one exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure and can be modified or changed in various ways on thebasis of the components illustrated in FIG. 5. By way of example, thedevice 50 may further include an audio output device that outputs audioand a display that outputs video.

The data communication unit 501 receives chatting data of the externaldevice 60 via a network. Herein, the chatting data may include at leastone of a text, image data, and position information related to the imagedata.

The text display unit 502 displays a text in a chatting area. Herein,the text may be a text received from the external device 60 or a textinput through the user interface 506. The chatting area is an areadisplayed on a display of the device 50 as a graphic area for displayinga text input through the user interface 506 or received from theexternal device 60.

The image search unit 503 searches for image data of an image selectedthrough the user interface 506. To be specific, if the image displayunit 505 receives a command to call images through the user interface506 and displays multiple images in a predetermined region of thedisplay of the device 50, the image search unit 203 may search for imagedata of an image selected through the user interface 506 from thedisplayed multiple images.

The position detection unit 504 detects position information of theregion selected through the user interface 506 in the chatting area. Auser may select a region through the user interface 506.

The image display unit 505 displays the searched image data in a regioncorresponding to the detected position information. Herein, the detectedposition information refers to position information of a region selectedthrough the user interface 506, and the region corresponding to theposition information refers to a region for displaying image data.Therefore, generally, the region selected through the user interface 506is distinguished from the region corresponding to the positioninformation. However, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the region selected through the user interface 506may be the same as the region corresponding to the position information.

The user interface 506 refers to a tool or a device through which acontrol command is input by the user. The user interface 506 may be aphysical input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, andthe like, and may also be a graphical user interface (GUI) expressed ina video display device.

If the region where the image data are displayed is selected through theuser interface 506, the image deletion unit 507 may non-display thedisplayed image data. By way of example, if the user places his/herfinger (for example, clicks or touches) on image data displayed on atouch screen as the user interface 506, the image deletion unit 507 maynon-display the displayed image data. A selection of the region wherethe image data are displayed is one example of the user's command toinstruct non-display of the displayed image data. Therefore, accordingto various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the user'scommand to instruct non-display of image data may be the user selectionof an icon displayed on the display or selection of a hardware button ofthe device 50. Further, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, an operation of the image deletion unit 507 isperformed by the image display unit 505.

FIG. 6 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe device 50 of FIG. 5. Referring to reference numerals 46 and 47 ofFIG. 6, the operation of the image deletion unit 507 will be described.If a finger 461 of the user is placed on displayed image data 451, theimage deletion unit 507 may recognize that the finger 461 of the user isplaced on the displayed image data, through the touch screen of the userinterface 506 and non-display the displayed image data 451. Thereference numeral 47 shows that the displayed image data arenon-displayed. As illustrated in a reference numeral 48, if the userdeactivates the chatting area and then activates the chatting area, theimage display unit 505 may re-display the non-displayed image data 451.In other words, if the user gets out of the chatting area and gets intothe chatting area again, the image display unit 505 may re-display thenon-displayed image data 451.

If the image deletion unit 507 receives a command to non-display animage through the user interface 5065, the image deletion unit 507 maynon-display at least one image data already displayed in the chattingarea. Herein, the command to non-display an image may refer to a user'scommand to non-display all of at least one image data already displayedin the chatting area. An example of the command to non-display an imagemay include the user's selection of any one of at least one image dataalready displayed in the chatting area, selection of a non-display icondisplayed on the display, or selection of a hardware non-display buttonof the device 50. According to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the operation of the image deletion unit 507 may beperformed by the image display unit 505.

If the image deletion unit 507 non-displays the displayed image data,the data communication unit 501 may transmit a signal for notifyingnon-display of image data to the external device 60. Herein, the signalfor notifying non-display may include identification information foridentifying the non-displayed image data. The identification informationmay be position information of the non-displayed image data. Theexternal device 60 may non-display at least one image data displayed onthe external device 60 with reference to the signal for notifyingnon-display.

The payment processing unit 508 performs at least one payment processcorresponding to image data. In an example of the payment process, imagedata are purchased and payment is made for the purchased image data. Byway of example, according to the payment process, if the user inputs arequest for purchasing image data through the user interface 506, apayment request message for requesting payment for the image data istransmitted from the device 50 to a payment server (not illustrated) orthe chatting data management server 10, and a payment completion messageis received from the payment server (not illustrated) or the chattingdata management server 10.

Another example of the payment process may be a gifting process forgiving image data to another user as a gift. By way of example,according to the gifting process, if the user inputs a request forgiving image data to the external device 60 as a gift through the userinterface 506, the device 50 transmits a payment request message forrequesting payment for the image data to the payment server (notillustrated) or the chatting data management server 10, a paymentcompletion message is received from the payment server (not illustrated)or the chatting data management server 10, and the image data aretransmitted to the external device 60. According to various exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure, examples of the payment processcan be determined in various ways.

FIG. 7 is a configuration view of a device 70 according to yet anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The device 70 may referto the external device 60 of FIG. 5, and an external device 80 may referto the device 50 of FIG. 5. Therefore, the descriptions made above withrespect to the device 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 or the device 60illustrated in FIG. 5 can be applied even to non-described matters ofthe device 70 illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, the device 70 includes a data communication unit701, a text display unit 702, an image search unit 703, a user interface704, and an image deletion unit 705. However, the device 70 illustratedin FIG. 7 is one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and canbe modified or changed in various ways on the basis of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 7. By way of example, the device 70 may furtherinclude a component for performing an operation of the image search unit503 of the device 50, a component for performing an operation of theposition detection unit 504 of the device 50, and a component forperforming an operation of the payment processing unit 508 of the device50.

The device 70 may perform the operation of the device 20 or the device50 at the same time when performing the operation of the device 60.Therefore, among the components of the device 70, the data communicationunit 701, the text display unit 702, the image display unit 703, theuser interface 704, and the image deletion unit 705 may perform theoperations of the data communication unit 201, the text display unit202, the image display unit 205, the user interface 206 of the device 20or the operations of the data communication unit 501, the text displayunit 502, the image display unit 505, the user interface 506, and theimage deletion unit 507 of the device 50, respectively. Further, thedevice 70 may further include a component for performing an operation ofthe image search unit 203 or the image search unit 503, a component forperforming an operation of the position detection unit 204 or theposition detection unit 504, and a component for performing an operationof the payment processing unit 508 of the device 50.

The data communication unit 701 receives chatting data of the externaldevice 80 via a network. Herein, the chatting data may include at leastone of a text, image data, and position information related to the imagedata. Further, the data communication unit 701 may transmit chattingdata to the external device 80 via the network.

The data communication unit 701 may receive chatting data from theexternal device 80 via the chatting data management server 10, or maydirectly receive chatting data from the external device 80 withoutpassing through the chatting data management server 10. Further, thedata communication unit 701 may transmit and receive information (forexample, any one of identification information, selection information,or identification code) related to chatting data to/from the chattingdata management server 10.

The text display unit 702 displays a text in a chatting area. Herein,the text may be a text received from the external device 80 or a textinput through the user interface 704. The chatting area is an areadisplayed on a display of the device 70 as a graphic area for displayinga text input through the user interface 704 or received from theexternal device 80.

The image display unit 703 displays received image data in a regioncorresponding to received position information. Herein, if a displayedtext is shifted in the chatting area, displayed image data may also beshifted in the chatting area. Further, the received position informationrefers to position information of a region selected through a userinterface of the external device 80, and the region corresponding toposition information refers to a region for displaying the receivedimage data.

The user interface 704 refers to a tool or a device through which acontrol command is input by the user. The user interface 704 may be aphysical input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, andthe like, and may also be a graphical user interface (GUI) expressed ina video display device.

If the data communication unit 701 receives a signal for notifyingnon-display of image data transmitted from the external device 80, theimage deletion unit 705 non-displays the displayed image data. Such anoperation of the image deletion unit 705 may be performed by the imagedisplay unit 703.

FIG. 8 is a configuration view of the chatting data management server 10of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 8, the chatting data management server 10includes a text management unit 101, an image data management unit 102,and a position information management unit 103. However, the chattingdata management server 10 illustrated in FIG. 8 is one exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure and can be modified or changed invarious ways on the basis of the components illustrated in FIG. 8. Byway of example, the chatting data management server 10 may furtherinclude a manager interface for controlling each component in thechatting data management server 10.

The text management unit 101 receives a text from a first device 81among multiple devices connected via a network and transmits thereceived text to a second device 82. The image data management unit 102receives image data from the first device 81 and transmits the receivedimage data to the second device 82. Herein, the image data managementunit 102 may receive information (for example, identificationinformation or selection information) related to the image data from thefirst device 81 and transmit the image data to the second device 82using the received information. Further, the image data management unit102 may receive information (for example, identification information orselection information) related to the image data from the first device81 and transmit the received information to the second device 82, andthen, if the second device 82 requests image data, the image datamanagement unit 102 may transmit the image data to the second device 82.The position information management unit 103 receives positioninformation related to the image data from the first device 81 andtransmits the received position information to the second device 82.Herein, the image data may be displayed in a region corresponding to theposition information in a chatting area of the first device. Further,the image data may be displayed in a region corresponding to theposition information in a chatting area of the second device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram provided to explain an example of an operation ofthe chatting data management server 10 of FIG. 1. An operation of thechatting data management server 10 of FIG. 9 is one of various exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, all of the exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to FIG. 9 and thedescription thereof.

In block 5901, a chatting area of the first device 81 and a chattingarea of the second device 82 are activated. In order to do so, thechatting data management server 10 may transmit and receive a signal foractivating the chatting areas of the first device 81 and the seconddevice 82. By way of example, the chatting data management server 10 mayreceive a request for chatting from the first device 81 or the seconddevice 82 and transmit a response for activating a chatting area to thefirst device 81 and the second device 82 in response to the receivedrequest for chatting.

If the second device 82 displays a text input by a user in the chattingarea of the second device 82 (S902) and the second device 82 transmitsthe displayed text to the chatting data management server 10 (S903), thechatting data management server 10 transmits the text received from thesecond device 82 to the first device 81 (S904).

The first device 81 displays the text received from the chatting datamanagement server 10 in the chatting area of the first device (S905),searches image data of an image selected through a user interface of thefirst device 81 (S906), detects position information of a regionselected through the user interface of the first device 81 (S907),displays the searched image data in a region corresponding to theposition information (S908), and transmits the searched image data andthe detected position information to the chatting data management server10 (S909).

The chatting data management server 10 receives image data (orinformation of the image data) and position information related to theimage data from the first device 81 (S909) and transmits the receivedimage data (or information of the image data) and the received positioninformation to the second device 82 (S910). The second device 82displays the received image data in a region corresponding to thereceived position information (S911).

If the first device 81 receives an input of a selection of displayedimage data through the user interface of the first device 81 (S912), thefirst device 81 non-displays the image data in the chatting area of thefirst device 81 (S913) and transmits a notice signal for notifyingnon-display of the image data to the chatting data management server 10(S914).

The chatting data management server 10 receives the notice signal fornotifying non-display of the image data from the first device 81 (S914)and transmits the received notice signal to the second device 82 (S915).The second device 82 non-displays the image displayed in the chattingarea of the second device 82 on the basis of the received notice signal.

Non-described matters about the chatting data management server 10 withreference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are the same as the descriptions madewith respect to the chatting data management server 10 with reference toFIG. 1 to FIG. 7 or can be easily inferred from the descriptions, and,thus, explanation thereof will be omitted and the descriptions withreference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 are applied thereto. Herein, each of thefirst device 81 or the second device 82 of FIG. 8 may be any one of thedevices 21 to 23, the device 20, the device 30, the device 50, thedevice 60, the device 70, or the device 80 described with reference toFIG. 1 to FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for displaying an image according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method fordisplaying an image according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10 includes steps performed time sequentially in the device 50according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 or thedevice 50 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.Therefore, even if omitted in the following, the descriptions made abovewith respect to the device 20 according to the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2 or the device 50 according to the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 can be applied to the method fordisplaying an image according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10. Hereinafter, it will be described that the steps are performedby the respective components of the device 50 illustrated in FIG. 5 forconvenience in explanation, but the steps may also be performed by therespective components of the device 20 illustrated in FIG. 2.

In block S1001, the data communication unit 501 receives a text from theexternal device via the network. In block S1002, the text display unit502 displays the received text in the chatting area. In block S1003, theimage search unit 503 searches for image data of an image selectedthrough the user interface 506. In block S1004, the position detectionunit 504 detects position information of a region selected through theuser interface 506 in the chatting area. In block S1005, the imagedisplay unit 507 displays the searched image data in a regioncorresponding to the detected position information. In block S1006, ifthe displayed text is shifted in the chatting area, the image displayunit 505 shifts the displayed image data in the chatting area.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 10, the method for displaying an imagemay further include a step of non-displaying the displayed image data ifa region where the image data are displayed is selected through the userinterface 506(not illustrated), a step of displaying a notice messagefor notifying receipt of external image data by the data communicationunit in the display of the device (not illustrated), and a step ofperforming at least one payment process corresponding to the image data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for displaying an image according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method fordisplaying an image according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 11 includes steps performed time sequentially in the device 70according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. Therefore,even if omitted in the following, the descriptions made above withrespect to the device 70 according to the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7 can be applied to the method for displaying animage according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11.

In block S1101, the data communication unit 701 receives a text, imagedata, and position information from the external device 80 via thenetwork. In block S1102, the text display unit 702 displays the receivedtext in the chatting area. In block S1103, the image display unit 703displays the received image data in a region corresponding to thereceived position information. In block S1104, if the displayed text isshifted in the chatting area, the image display unit 703 shifts thedisplayed image data in the chatting area.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 11, if the data communication unit 701receives a signal for notifying non-display of the image datatransmitted from the external device 80, the method for displaying animage may further include a step of non-displaying the displayed imagedata (not illustrated).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for managing chatting data accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method formanaging chatting data according to an exemplary embodiment illustratedin FIG. 12 includes steps performed time sequentially in the chattingdata management server 10 according to the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 8. Therefore, even if omitted in the following, thedescriptions made above with respect to the chatting data managementserver 10 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8can be applied to the method for managing chatting data according to theexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.

In block S1201, the text management unit 101 receives a text from thefirst device 81 among the multiple devices connected via the network andtransmits the received text to the second device 82. In block S1202, theimage data management unit 102 receives information of image data (orimage data) from the first device 81 and transmits the receivedinformation of the image data (or image data) to the second device 82.The position information management unit (103) receives positioninformation related to the image data from the first device 81 andtransmits the received position information to the second device 82.Herein, the image data may be displayed in a region corresponding to theposition information in the chatting area of the second device 82.Further, the image data may be displayed in a region corresponding tothe position information in the chatting area of the first device 81.

The method for displaying an image or the method for managing chattingdata described above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 or FIG. 12,respectively, can be embodied in a storage medium including instructioncodes executable by a computer such as a program module executed by thecomputer. Besides, the data structure in accordance with the embodimentof the present disclosure can be stored in the storage medium executableby the computer. A computer readable medium can be any usable mediumwhich can be accessed by the computer and includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media. Further, thecomputer readable medium may include all computer storage andcommunication media. The computer storage medium includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media embodied by acertain method or technology for storing information such as computerreadable instruction code, a data structure, a program module or otherdata. The communication medium typically includes the computer readableinstruction code, the data structure, the program module, or other dataof a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmissionmechanism, and includes a certain information transmission medium.

The above description of the present disclosure is provided for thepurpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made withoutchanging technical conception and essential features of the presentdisclosure. Thus, it is clear that the above-described embodiments areillustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present disclosure. Forexample, each component described to be of a single type can beimplemented in a distributed manner. Likewise, components described tobe distributed can be implemented in a combined manner.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the following claimsrather than by the detailed description of the embodiment. It shall beunderstood that all modifications and embodiments conceived from themeaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included inthe scope of the present disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A device that displays an image in a chatting area where atext is displayed, the device comprising: a data communication unit thatreceives a text from an external device via a network; a text displayunit that displays the received text in the chatting area; an imagesearch unit that searches for image data of an image selected through auser interface; a position detection unit that detects positioninformation of a region selected through the user interface in thechatting area; and an image display unit that displays the searchedimage data in a region corresponding to the detected positioninformation, wherein when the displayed text is shifted in the chattingarea, the displayed image data are also shifted in the chatting area,and wherein the region where the image data are displayed is a regionwhere the text is displayed and the image data are overlapped in wholeor in part with the text.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:an image deletion unit that non-displays the displayed image data whenthe region where the image data are displayed is selected through theuser interface.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein when the imagedeletion unit non-displays the displayed image data, the datacommunication unit transmits a signal for notifying non-display of theimage data to the external device.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinwhen the region selected through the user interface is in apredetermined distance range from the displayed text, the text displayunit emphasizes the displayed text.
 5. The device of claim 1, whereinwhen the position detection unit receives a shift command of thedisplayed image data through the user interface, the position detectionunit detects position information of a destination region of the displayimage data on the basis of the shift command, and the image display unitshifts the displayed image data to a region corresponding to thedetected position information of the destination region and displays theimage data on the destination region.
 6. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising: an image deletion unit that non-displays at least one imagedata already displayed in the chatting area when a command tonon-display an image is input through the user interface.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the chatting area is divided into at least two cellregions by at least one dividing line, and the selected region is anyone cell region selected through the user interface from the at leasttwo cell regions divided by the at least one dividing line.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides a user with alist of multiple images arranged in used order.
 9. The device of claim1, wherein the user interface provides a tool for modifying the imagedata.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein when the data communicationunit receives external image data and external position information fromthe external device, the image display unit displays the external imagedata in a region corresponding to the external position information inthe chatting area.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein when the datacommunication unit receives the external image data, the image displayunit displays a notice message for notifying receipt of the externalimage data on a display of the device.
 12. The device of claim 12,further comprising: a payment processing unit that performs at least onepayment process related to the image data.
 13. A server that manageschatting data, the server comprising: a text management unit thatreceives a text from a first device and transmits the received text to asecond device from among multiple devices connected via a network; animage data management unit that receives information of image data fromthe first device and transmits the received information of the imagedata to the second device; and a position information management unitthat receives position information related to the image data from thefirst device and transmits the received position information to thesecond device, wherein the image data are displayed in a regioncorresponding to the position information in the chatting area of thesecond device, and wherein the region where the image data are displayedis a region where the text is displayed and the image data areoverlapped in whole or in part with the text.
 14. A device thattransmits and receives a chatting message, the device comprising: a datacommunication unit that receives a text from an external device via anetwork; a text display unit that displays a text bubble of the receivedtext in a chatting area; a position detection unit that detects positioninformation of the text bubble selected through the user interface inthe chatting area; and an image display unit that makes the text bubblecorresponding to the detected position information blinded, wherein whenthe received text is shifted in the chatting area, the text bubble isalso shifted in the chatting area while keeping the text bubble blinded.15. The device of claim 14, wherein when the image display unit makesthe text bubble blinded, the data communication unit transmits theposition information of the text bubble to a chatting data managementserver or the external device.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein whenthe data communication unit receives an external position information ofa text bubble of the external device, the image display unit makes atext bubble corresponding to the external position information blinded.17. A method for transmitting and receiving a chatting message, themethod comprising: receiving a text from an external device via anetwork; displaying a text bubble of the received text in a chattingarea; detecting position information of the text bubble selected throughthe user interface in the chatting area; and making the text bubblecorresponding to the detected position information blinded, wherein whenthe received text is shifted in the chatting area, the text bubble isalso shifted in the chatting area while keeping the text bubble blinded.